Variable angle launcher



Nov. 8, 1949 w. H. CHRISTIE 2,487,042

VARIABLE ANGLE LAUNCHER Filed Oct. 14, 1948 2 Shee'ts-Shet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM H CHR/S77E U ATTOPNFV Nov. 8, 1949 Filed Oct. 14, 1948 W. H. CHRISTIE VARIABLE ANGLE LAUNCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILL/AM H. CHRIS 77E A TTOR/VEV Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted. under the act of March. 3;, 1883; as amended. April 30, 1928: 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to apparatus for launch-- ing missiles into water, and more particularly, to test apparatus which may be adjusted to launch missiles into a body of water at any desired angle, within a predetermined range, with respect to the surface of the water;

It is an object of this invaitionto somount a launching guide or tube for missiles that it may be adjusted to project the missile intothe water at any desired angle respect to the surface of the water within a predetermined angularrange.

It is another object of this invention to provide improved means for supporting a missile launching guide for projecting missiles into a water body.

It is a further object of this invention toprovide improved support means for a missile launcher which will provide adjustability in the launching angle at which themissile is projected into the water body.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of" this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description.

The variable angle launcher of the instant invention comprisessuitable support means disposedadjacent a water body. In apreferred form of. the invention this support means consists of land based rail means which are disposed adjacent a water body and extend upwardly away from the shoreline. It is preferred to employ" the side of a hill adjacent a water body" to attain the desired slope for the rail means. A float is disposed. in. the water substantially in line with the rail means, and a bridge spans the float and the rail means. The bridge is pivotally mounted at one end to the float for pivoting about a horizontal axis. The other end is adapted toride up and down. on the rail means so that as the float is drawn: in toward the shore line, the angle oi the bridge with respect to the water surface becomes steeper, or more vertical. Conversely, as the float is pulled away from the shore line; drawing the lower end. of the bridge with it, the land end of the bridge rides downthe rail and the bridge assumes a flatteror more horizontal angle: with respect to the water surface.

An elongate launching: guideor tube is mountedlongitudinally' to the bridge so thatv a missileguided or projected by the launching guide may be caused to. enter the water. at. a flat or a steep angle, depending upon. the. position. of the floatwith respect to the shoreline;-

It: is preferredto achieve the connection between the land end: of the: bridge and the rail means through the intermediacy of a carriage which rides up and down on the rail means, the land end or the bridge being pivotally mounted to the carriage. In order that the launching angle; may be adjusted not only in elevation but also in azimuth, the mounting of the bridge to the. carriage is made universal, so thatthe bridge may pivot with respect-to the carriage about both horizontal and vertical axes.

The carriage is pulled up and down-on the rail means by a. cable which passes over a sheave at the top of the hill, the other end being anchoredto a wheeledcounterweight riding on rails on the opposite side'oithe hill In this way, the efiective weightof the bridge and carriage may be counterbalanced to facilitate moving the carriage up and down on the. rail means.

In order to prevent lateral swaying of the float end of the bridge, two cables are secured, one to each side of the float end of the bridge, these cables extending laterally on each side of the bridge to the shore line, where they are anchored, thereby providing lateral stability for the float. Interconnected motors pay the cables in and out, so that as: one cable is payed out, theother cable is drawn in, thereby swinging the float end of the bridge around inazimuth.

A preferred embodiment of the invention described generally above will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the variable angle launcher constituting the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a plain view of the launcher of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3- is a fragmentary detailed view, showing the mannerin which the upper end of the bridge is secured to the carriage.

ReferringtoFig'. l, H' designates a hill immediately' adjacent a' water body P2; The hill H serves as support means for one end of a bridge t3, the other end of which is supported by a float H to which it is pivotally mounted at I6 for pivoting about" a horizontal axis. The bridge I3 carries an elongate launching guide or tube ET mounted longitudinallythereon. The tube IT is adapted to guide a missile l8 as it is projected into the. water [2 by any suitable propulsive means, such as compressed air.

Support ofthe'land based end of the bridge l 3' bythehill H is achieved through the intermedia'cy oi rail. means I E; upon which rides a carriage 21'. The land based endoi 'the bridge l3 is mounted to" the carriage Zl by' a universal joint 22, which permits pivoting of the bridge l3 with respect to the carriage 2| in both vertical and horizontal planes. To prevent excessive lateral strain on the universaljoint 22, a pair of arcuate pads 23 are provided on the upper surface of the carriage 2 I, and serve as sliding supports for foot members 24, pivotally connected to each side of the bridge l3. In this way, lateral support of the bridge i3 is not required of the horizontal pivot pin of the universal joint 22.

The carriage 2| is drawn up and down on the rails |9 by means of a plurality of cables 26, secured to the upper end of the carriage 2|, which are interwoven over a plurality of sheaves 21, 28, and 29, thence passing downwardly along the other side of the hill II, where they are secured to a wheeled counterweight 3|.

side of the hill away from the water body I2. One of the sheaves 28 is connected through gearing to a drive motor 33, rotation of which causes the carriage 2| to move up and down along the rail means l9.

To provide lateral stability for the float end of the bridge |3, a pair of cables 34 and 33, are secured, one to each side of the hinge member l6 of the bridge l3, and extend laterally to the shoreline, where they pass over sheaves, for example, the sheave 31 for the cable 33, and then to suitable reels 38. The reels 38 are driven by individual motors 39, which are electrically interconnected so that as one reel pays out, the other takes up, thus permitting the float end of the bridge |3 to be swung horizontally about the vertical axis of the universal joint 22. The motors 39 also have suitable controlling connections so that the cables 34 and 36 may be payed out or taken up simultaneously as the carriage moves down or up. At the land or upper end of the bridge l3 a compressed air tank 4| is mounted above the end of the tube I1, and is connected thereto through a Valve 42. The tank 4| is filled with compressed air by means of a compressor 43.

peratz'o'n The instant invention is operated substantially as follows. It will be assumed that the carriage 2| is near the top of the hill II, and that it is desired to launch the missile l8 at a somewhat flatter angle. Motor 33 is operated to lower the carriage 2|, until the bridge l3 has assumed the desired angle. Simultaneously, the two motors 39 are operated to simultaneously pay out the cables 34 and 36, which are maintained at a suitable degree of tautness.

If desired, the azimuth angle may also be altered by paying out one of the cables 34 or 36, while simultaneously taking up the other. When the desired attitude of the bridge l3, both in elevation and azimuth, has been attained, a missile I8 is inserted into the breech end of the launching tube l1, and moved just forward of the valve 42. The compressed air tank 4| is filled with air, the breech end of the tube |'I closed, and the valve 42 opened to admit compressed air into the tube l1 and project the missile |8 down the tube and into the water at the desired angle.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention described herein may be man- The counterweight rides on rail means 32, laid on the inlandufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. A variable angle launcher for projecting missiles into water comprising rail means laid on the side of a hill adjacent a water body and extending downward toward the water, a carriage reciprocably positioned upon said rail means, a float in said water body, a bridge spanning said float and said carriage, the float end of said bridge being pivotally mounted to said float about a horizontal axis, the carriage end of said bridge being mounted to said carriage for pivoting with respect thereto about both horizontal and vertical axes, whereby said bridge may be disposed at .variable elevation and azimuth angles with respect to the water surface by appropriate positioning of said float with respect to the rail means, an elongate launching guide mounted longitudinally on said bridge, and adapted to guide a missile as it is projected into said water body, other rail means laid on theopposite side of the hill in the same vertical plane as said first named rail means, a wheeled counterweight riding on said other rail means, a sheave at the apex of said hill generally in line with both said rail means, cable means secured to said carriage, passing over said sheave, and secured to said counterweight, power means for rotating said sheave, a pair of cable means secured to and extending generally laterally, one from each side of said float end, to the land, and means for simultaneously paying out one of said pair while taking up the other of said pair.

2. A variable angle launcher for projecting missiles into water comprising rail means laid on the side of a hill adjacent a water body and extending downward toward the water, a carriage reciprocably positioned upon said rail means, a float in said water body, a bridge spanning said float and said carriage, the float end of said bridge being pivotally mounted to said float about a horizontal axis, the carriage end of said bridge being mounted to said carriage for pivoting with respect to the horizontal axis, whereby said bridge may be disposed at variable elevation angles with respect to the water surface by appropriate positioning of said float with respect to the rail means, an elongate launching guide mounted longitudinally on said bridge and adapted to guide a missile as it is projected into said water body, and a pair of cable means secured to and extending generally laterally, one from each side of said float end to the land.

3. A variable angle launcher for projecting missiles into water comprising rail means laid on the side of a hill adjacent a water body and extending downward toward the water, a carriage reciprocably positioned upon said rail means, a float in said water body, a bridge spanning said float and said carriage, the float end of said bridge being pivotally mounted to said float about a horizontal axis, the carriage end of said bridge being mounted to said carriage for pivoting with respect to the horizontal axis, whereby said bridge may be disposed at variable elevation angles with respect to the water surface by appropriate positioning of said float with respect to the rail means, and an elongate launching guide mounted longitudinally on said bridge and adapted to guide a missile as it is projected into said water body.

4. A variable angle launcher for projecting missiles into water comprising rail means laid on the side of a hill adjacent a water body and extending downward toward the water, a float in said water body, a bridge spanning said float and said rail means, the float end of said bridge being pivotally mounted to said float about a horizontal axis, the other end of said bridge riding on said rail means, whereby said bridge may be disposed at variable elevation angle with respect to the water surface by appropriate positioning of said float with respect to the rail means, an elongate launching guide mounted longitudinally on said bridge and adapted to guide a missile as it is projected into said water body, other rail means laid on the opposite side of the hill in the same vertical plane as said first named rail means, a wheeled counterweight riding on said other rail means, a sheave at the apex of said hill generally in line with both said rail means, cable means secured to said carriage, passing over said sheave, and secured to said counterweight, and power means for rotating said sheave.

5. A variable angle launcher for projecting missiles into water comprising rail means laid on the side of a hill adjacent a water body and extending downward toward the water, a float in said water body, a bridge spanning said float and said rail means, the float end of said bridge being pivotally mounted to said float about a horizontal axis, the other end of said bridge riding on said rail means whereby said bridge may be disposed at variable elevation angle with respect to the water surface by appropriate positioning of said float with respect to the rail means, and an elongate launching guide mounted longitudinally on said bridge and adapted to guide a missile as it is projected into said water body.

6. A launcher for projecting missiles into water comprising upwardly extending land based rail means disposed adjacent a water body, a carriage reciprocably positioned upon said rail means, a float in said water body, a bridge spanning said float and said carriage, said bridge being pivotally mounted at one end to said float and at the other end to said carriage, cable means secured to said carriage and extending over the upper end of said rail means, a counterweight secured to the other end of said cable means to counterbalance the efiective weight of said carriage and bridge, an elongate launching guide mounted longitudinally on said bridge and adapted to guide a missile as it is projected into said water body, a pair of cable means secured to and extending generally laterally, one from each side of the float end of said bridge, to the land, and means for simultaneously paying out one of said pair while taking up the other of said pair.

7. A launcher for projecting missiles into water comprising upwardly extending land based rail means disposed adjacent a water body, a carriage reciprocably positioned upon said rail means, a float in said water body, a bridge spanning said float and said carriage, said bridge being pivotally mounted at one end to said float and at the other end to said carriage, cable means secured to said carriage and extending over the upper end or said rail means, a counterweight secured to the other end of said cable means to counterbalance the eflective weight of said oarriage and bridge, and an elongate launching guide mounted longitudinally on said bridge and adapted to guide a missile as it is projected into said water body.

3, A launcher for projecting missiles into water" comprising upwardly extending land based rail means disposed adjacent a water body, a carriage reciprocably positioned upon said rail means, a float in said water body, a bridge spanning said float and said carriage, said bridge being pivotally mounted at one end to said float and at the other end to said carriage, and an elongate launching guide mounted longitudinally on said bridge and adapted to guide a missile as it is projected into said water body.

9. A launcher for projecting missiles into water comprising upwardly extending land based rail means disposed adjacent a water body, a float in said water body, a bridge spanning said float and said rail means, said bridge being pivotally mounted at one end to said float, the other end riding on said rail means, and an elongate launching guide mounted longitudinally on said bridge and adapted to guide a missile as it is projected into said water body.

10. A launcher for projecting missiles into water comprising land based rail means disposed adjacent a water body, a float in said water body, a bridge spanning said float and said rail means, said bridge being pivotally mounted at one end to said float, the other end riding on said rail means, and an elongate launching guide mounted longitudinally on said bridge and adapted to guide a missile as it is projected into said water body.

11. A launcher for projecting missiles into water comprising land based support means disposed adjacent a water body, a float in said water body, a bridge spanning said float and said support means, said bridge being mounted at one end to said float, the other end being supported by said support means, and an elongate launching guide mounted longitudinally on said bridge and adapted to guide a missile as it is projected into said water body.

WILLIAM H. CHRISTIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Popular Mechanics, June 1948, pp. 104-106, 252, 254. 

